The Royal Mews is the working stables and coach houses of Buckingham Palace, built on its present site in 1825 to a design by John Nash for King George IV. It is not a museum: it is a genuine working facility that keeps the Royal Family’s ceremonial transport on the road.
For 200 years it has run like a small village, with its own staff and daily routines, and it still houses the carriages and state vehicles used for coronations, royal weddings, the State Opening of Parliament, and investitures. A visit is a rare look at the practical side of royal pageantry.
livetalent /Getty Images SignatureRoyal Mews Entry Ticket
Go behind the scenes of royal transport: the working stables, the horses, and the historic carriages, including the dazzling Gold State Coach.
Check availabilityThe Royal Coaches
The Mews is home to the finest collection of ceremonial coaches in the world. These are the ones to look out for.
Gold State Coach
Built in 1762 and used at every coronation since, most recently for King Charles III in 2023. It weighs over four tonnes, needs eight horses, and is famously uncomfortable: Queen Elizabeth II called the ride “horrible”.
Diamond Jubilee State Coach
Built in 2012, this modern coach blends high-tech comfort with history, working in fragments of wood from famous ships and buildings across the country.
Australian State Coach
A gift from Australia in 1988, with central heating, air conditioning, and electric windows. It carried guests at the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Catherine.
Irish State Coach
Dating from 1851, this is the coach traditionally used by the monarch for the State Opening of Parliament.
Glass Coach
Bought in 1881 and long used for royal weddings, including Lady Diana Spencer’s in 1981. Its large windows let the crowds see the couple inside.
The Horses
The Mews is home to the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays, two types of horse chosen and trained specifically for ceremonial work. The Windsor Greys traditionally pull the most important carriages, including the monarch’s.
Grooms care for the horses all year round and train them to stay calm among the crowds, music, and unexpected sounds of a state procession through central London.
The Modern Fleet
Alongside the historic coaches, the Mews keeps a fleet of modern state cars: Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, and Jaguars in royal claret livery, increasingly joined by electric vehicles. These handle most day-to-day royal engagements, leaving the coaches for the grandest occasions.
Planning Your Visit
The Royal Mews makes a good, less crowded alternative to the State Rooms, and works especially well with children.
- How long: allow 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Audio guide: included, in several languages.
- Family-friendly: children’s trails and the chance to try on livery for photos, and many children prefer the horses to the palace interiors.
- Opening times: different from the State Rooms, and the Mews can close at short notice for royal events or the care of the horses.
- Good to know: as a working stables, the horses and some coaches may not always be on view.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a visit to the Royal Mews take?
Usually 1.5 to 2 hours, taking in the coaches, the horses when they are present, and the interactive displays. An audio guide is included.
Are the horses always on view?
Not always. This is a working stables, so the horses may be out exercising, training, or on royal duty, and sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Can you see the Gold State Coach?
Usually, yes. It is on display when not in use for a ceremony, though it may occasionally be away for maintenance or a royal event.
Is the Royal Mews suitable for children?
Yes. There are children’s trails and interactive displays, and many children enjoy the horses and carriages more than the palace interiors.
How do the Royal Mews opening hours differ from the palace?
The Mews has its own schedule, separate from the State Rooms, and is often open when other parts of the palace are closed. It can also close at short notice for royal events or the care of the horses.
Why is the Gold State Coach considered uncomfortable?
It uses leather straps rather than springs for suspension, so the ride is jolting. Weighing over four tonnes and needing eight horses, it moves at walking pace and offers no protection from the noise and movement, which is why Queen Elizabeth II called it “horrible”.